Ribbon drive pumping apparatus and method with added fluid

ABSTRACT

A ribbon drive pumping apparatus and method for substantially incompressible fluids, such as liquids, is disclosed. The pump has an extended tube having an intake at a first end and an outlet at a second end. A ribbon formed of helical coils is mounted in the tube for rotation and the frequency of the coils decreases from the first end to the second end of the tube. Substantially incompressible fluid is collected at the first end, an axial component of velocity is increased via the rotating ribbon, and the substantially incompressible fluid is ejected from the second end to provide pumping of the liquid. Additional fluid is added to an interior portion of the pump, preferably to a low pressure region, for various purposes such as mixing, cavitation prevention, increased throughput, etc.

RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/056,869, filed Jan. 25, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,520 which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/628,787, filed Jul.29, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,998, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/146,122, filed Jul. 29,1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for pumping water orother fluids using a ribbon drive mechanism. More particularly, thepresent invention is a pump with a ribbon drive shaped as a spiralribbon along the interior wall of a tubular conduit for causing water orother fluids to be pumped through the apparatus and which provides forthe addition of fluid into low-pressure regions of the pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The United States and other countries are facing an ever increasingspiral of demands for electric power. Coal powered electric powergeneration facilities, while relatively cost-effective, neverthelesspresent a number of adverse environmental issues from an air and waterstandpoint as well as from a mining standpoint. Nuclear powered electricpower generation facilities, while capable of producing significantamounts of electric power, are extremely expensive to build and tooperate and represent, to many communities, the ever present danger of aThree Mile Island/Chernobyl type nuclear catastrophe with all of itsassociated environmental hazards and life-threatening situations. Solarpower electric generation facilities, while promising from anenvironmental impact standpoint, are unlikely to be able to generatesignificant portions of the vast amounts of power needed presently andin the future given the current state of this particular technology.Hydropower generation offers one of the more promising power generationopportunities through its use of a renewable resource. However, currenthydropower generation techniques involve: the expenditure of vastamounts of capital to construct large dams; the flooding and renderingunusable of large areas of land to contain the vast amounts of waterrequired for this type of power generation. In addition, insufficientwater depth, water volume, and speed of water flow are factors thatsignificantly limit the areas in which current hydropower generation canbe employed. With these limitations in mind, there are numerous areas ofthe country and of the world that have water resources that could beused to generate hydropower in large amounts if these impediments couldbe overcome.

One method of overcoming these impediments is to pump water from lowareas to higher areas of elevation to allow water to be concentrated ina series of relatively small reservoirs and to allow the energy offalling water to be harnessed for hydropower generation purposes. Thistype of system would be particularly advantageous for providing peakshaving of electrical loads. A significant volume of water would need tobe moved uphill for this objective to be accomplished. Clearly, there isan acute need for the development of a more effective and energyefficient pumping apparatus that will support employment of hydropowergeneration facilities in areas previously considered not viable for thistype of effort.

Rotary or screw pumps have long been the subject of various inventions.For example U.S. Pat. No. Re 29,626 was issued to Allen for a positivedisplacement rotary pump and drive coupling therefor. The pump wascomprised of a progressing cavity, positive displacement rotary pumpassembly for fluid or semi-fluid material. The assembly included arotary shaft with an associated drive motor and pump componentsincluding a tubular stator with interior helical surface and an orbitalrotor within the stator operably connected to the shaft and having anexterior helical surface. The rotor was coupled to the shaft by aflexible torque tube with one end connected to the shaft by a flexibletorque tube and the other connected to an end of the rotor to transmitdriving torque to the rotor. However, there was no multiplication of thevelocity of the water since the frequency of the blades remainedconstant throughout the length of the containment tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,046 was issued to Stevens et al. for a drivecatheter having helical pump drive shaft. The catheter included an outersheath and a rotatable core coupled to a distal tip that directlycontacted deposits on the inside of blood vessel inner walls. An outersurface of the rotatable core defined a screw pump for moving dislodgeddeposits away from the blood vessel through the catheter sheath to abifurcating adapter located outside the patient. However, there was nomultiplication of the velocity of the fluid since the frequency of theblades remained constant throughout the length of the containment tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,376 was issued to Wright for a Moineau pump withrotating closed end outer member and nonrotating hollow inner member.The pump consisted of a progressive cavity pump with a helical gearpair, wherein the closed end outer gear rotated and orbited relative toa nonrotating hollow inner gear. A hollow inner gear comprising aninternal chamber extending axially allowed the flow of pumpable materialfrom progressing cavities to the closed end and through the hollow innergear. The pump could be used within a material containment vessel, andthe invention could be positioned to avoid contact of the pumpablematerial with any rotating couplings. However, as with the inventionsdiscussed above, there was no multiplication of the velocity of thefluid since the frequency of the blades remained constant throughout thelength of the containment tube

U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,063 was issued to Ozaki et al for a screw fluidmachine and screw gear used in the same. The screw fluid machineconsisted of male and female rotors which were engaged with each other,a casing for accommodating both rotors, fluid working rooms formed bythe rotors and the casing, and fluid inlet and outlet ports which wereprovided in the casing so as to intercommunicate with one end portionand the other portion of the working rooms. The helix angle of the screwgear constituting each of the male and female rotors was set to becontinuously varied in a helix advance direction. Although thisarrangement did pump fluid there was no multiplication of the velocityof the fluid since the frequency of the helix remained constantthroughout the length of the casing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,212 was issued to Haegeman for a screw withcontinuous and discontinuous blades for water processing apparatus. Theapparatus comprised a power source driving a shaft supporting ahelicoidal, spiral-shaped screw having an upper end part and fittedround at least part of the shaft, such that water was sucked up orimpelled downwards, the screw comprising at least one continuous screwblade and at least one discontinuous screw blade near at least one ofits end parts. Although the blades were a combination of continuous anddiscontinuous construction, there was no multiplication of the velocityof the fluid since the frequency of the two blades remained constantthroughout the length of the apparatus.

While these various systems represent inventive approaches to thepumping of fluids, they do not overcome the limitations and impedimentscurrently found in hydropower generation efforts, namely: therequirement for expenditure of vast amounts of capital to constructlarge dams; the flooding and rendering unusable of large areas of landto contain the vast amounts of water required for this type of powergeneration; and the restriction of power generation facilities to thoseareas having sufficient water depth, water volume, and speed of waterflow to support hydropower generation using currently availabletechnologies.

Pumping systems capable of overcoming these limitations and allowinghydropower generation at a lower cost of facilities construction, withless loss of land due to the flooding required, and able to operate inareas previously considered unsuitable for hydropower generation due toinsufficient water depth, insufficient water volume, and/or insufficientspeed of water flow have been disclosed by the present inventor in U.S.Application No. Ser. 10/056,869 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,998, both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention provides additional pumping utility to theseribbon drive pumps by providing additional fluid inlets located in thecontainment tube or a hollow drive shaft at low pressure regions so asto allow for minimizing cavitation, increasing throughput, and/or mixingof another fluid or fluids with the primary fluid being pumped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As discussed more fully below, the ribbon drive pumping apparatusconsists of a ribbon-like curved shape (“ribbon”), composed of metal orother suitable material, attached to a drive shaft. The drive shaftrotates the ribbon within a containment tube having a substantiallyconstant diameter and a length substantially the same as the ribbon.

It is an object of the present invention to create a pumping apparatusfor a hydropower generation system that involves significantly decreasedoutlays of capital for facilities construction compared to thatpresently required.

It is a further object of the present invention to create a pumpingapparatus for a hydropower generation system that requires asignificantly less volume of water for operation than that required bycurrent technologies thereby resulting in decreased flooding andrendering unusable large areas of land to contain the vast amounts ofwater required for current technologies to operate.

It is a further object of the present invention to create a pumpingapparatus that will allow a hydropower generation system to function inareas where water depth, water volume, and/or speed of water flow areinsufficient to support current technology hydropower generationsystems.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a systemand method useful for enabling hydropower peak shaving of electricalpower needs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pump systemhaving a reduced tendency to cause cavitation in the pumped liquid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pump systemthat has the ability to handle debris within the fluid being pumped.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a pump systemhaving means to add additional fluid to low pressure regions of thepump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump system thatprovides for mixing of additional fluids within the pump.

A feature of ribbon drive pumps is that there is a change in thefrequency of curves of the ribbon drive, which proceeds from a highfrequency (many coils per unit length) at the leading portion of theapparatus to a low frequency (few coils per unit length) at the trailingportion of the apparatus. The apparatus has an increasingly stretchedfrequency of coils as one proceeds down the length of the containmenttube. For example, in appearance, at the intake point for the water atpoint A, the apparatus would present a tightly curved angle for thecoil, with said angle being nearly vertical to the intake of waterpassing through the apparatus and changing/progressing to a much moregradual curve at an angle that might approximate 30 degrees to thehorizontal at the discharge point of the containment tube at Point B.

The initial tight curves (the high frequency front entry section of thecoil) provide an initial velocity of the water into and within theforward portion of the containment tube. As the rate of curve, i.e., thenumber of coils per unit length, decreases with the coils alreadyrotating, the velocity of the water increases incrementally as it isdriven back towards the rear portion of the ribbon drive and toward theoutput at Point B of the containment tube. The entire ribbon drive isconstructed within a containment tube in order to accommodate theincreased water or fluid velocity which is imparted to the water orother fluid as it moves from the front to the rear of the tube and togive that water or other fluid a more pronounced rearward direction aswell as to prevent loss of energy to the sides as would be the case witha typical open propeller type design.

The addition of means to add fluid to low pressure regions of thepresent invention allows for various improvements in utility of theribbon drive pump, including decreased cavitation, increased throughput,and the possibility of mixing one or more additional fluids into thepumped stream.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates the a ribbon drive pump apparatus of the presentinvention that includes fluid inlets located in the containment tube.

FIG. 2 illustrates the a ribbon drive pump apparatus of the presentinvention that includes fluid inlets located in a hollow drive shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, water or other fluid initially enters thecontainment tube at point A and initially is propelled down the tube upto a speed limited by virtue of the high frequency of the coil sectionlocated at the leading edge portion of the containment tube. However, toaccept each initial unit volume of water which has been sped up by theinitial high frequency coil, the frequency of the subsequent coil andthe associated helix angle of the ribbon/vane decreases, therebyimparting additional velocity to the water as it exits from the tube atpoint B.

The ribbon drive method/process becomes clearer when considering that ifan accelerated unit volume of water were moving at, e.g., 10feet/second, and contacted a subsequent coil of the samefrequency/angle/tightness of curve, that coil would act to inhibit theflow of accelerated water unless that subsequent coil were turning at aneven higher number of revolutions per minute to accommodate theincreased velocity imparted to exiting water by the preceding coil.However, being within the same spinning containment tube turning at thesame rate, e.g., 400 RPM, the second coil cannot rotate at a higher RPM.On the other hand, if the second coil has a lower frequency than thefirst coil, it will transfer additional energy to the alreadyaccelerated unit volume of water, resulting in an exit velocity afterthe second coil of, say, 12 or 14 feet/second. Thus thefrequency/angle/tightness of curve of the subsequent sections decreases,thereby imparting additional velocity to the water as it exits from thetube at point B.

The frequency of each coil and the distance between the coils can beoptimized by design, whether fixed in the same containment tube or not.If subsequent coils of lower frequency are rotated in separate sectionsat separate RPM's, additional energy savings and increases in velocityand volume can be attained by allowing the rotation rates of subsequentsections to be tailored for optimum or maximum performance.

A characteristic element of design of the ribbon drive pump of presentinvention is the ribbon drive whose curve changes from a high frequencyof coils per unit length to a low frequency of coils per unit length asone moves or progresses from the intake end to the output end of thecontainment tube. From an appearance standpoint, the ribbon drive would,at the intake point A of the apparatus, be comprised of a series oftight curves of the ribbon drive having an angle very nearly close tovertical at the intake point of the containment tube with a gradualcurve as one progresses from the intake end to the output end ordischarge point of the containment tube with an angle at the output endof the containment tube that might approximate 30 degrees.

The tight helix of the ribbon drive, i.e., high frequency of coils perunit length, initially brings water or other fluid into the containmenttube. As the accelerated water or other fluid proceeds to the lowerfrequency curve of the already spinning helix, the water velocity speedsup sequentially.

Assume that a fluid, such as water, is moving along at a rate of speed“a.” Initial energy is imparted to water moving along the central linearaxis of the ribbon drive by a high frequency coil. The amount of energydepends upon the revolutions per minute (R.P.M.) of the central linearshaft and thus of each coil of the helical shape. A unit of water, uponexiting coil HF#1 (high frequency, 1st coil), is moving at velocity“a+1.” If a second, identical subsequent coil HF#2 is turning at thesame rate as HF#1, then it, too, can only add “1” to initial velocity“a”—not “1” to “a+1”—because HF#2 and HF#1 would be rotating at the samespeed. Further, having the same helix angle at HF#2 would even act toimpede the rapid passage of water moving at “a+1” having exited fromHF#1, rather than to facilitate the water passage with a less steephelix angle. Increasing the frequency of HF-#2 (making it a tightercoil, with a steeper helix angle) would make it act more like a wallthan a water conduit, while rotating on the same shaft as HF#1.Therefore, the coil at an HF#2 position, rotating on the same shaft andat the same RPM as HF#1, must be a coil of lower frequency than HF#1,said second coil now called MF#1 (1^(st) middle frequency coil).

A unit of energy initiated at the front edge of HF#1, by the rotation ofthe ribbon drive, is transferred to move water along the edge of itsrelatively vertical ribbon-like band/vane, with a small net increase inthe axial velocity. The unit of energy next reaches MF#1 coil, movingalong the edge of the more spread-out coil of the vane, traveling agreater distance along the edge of the vane in MF#1 compared to HF#1 perrotation. Therefore the unit of energy travels faster axially since a360 degree curve of the MF#1 coil is more spaced out, stretched out asit were, along the central axle.

The unit of energy is imparted to unit volumes of water (for discussionpurposes) moving rearward through the ribbon drive. The energy isapplied at a constant rate (all coils turning at the same RPM) but alonga constantly longer path. That longer path accommodates the unit ofwater moving at “a+1” because the vane face is less vertical than atHF#1, the vane edge is less vertical/more horizontal in MF#1 (the secondcoil in a ribbon drive propulsion system), with the unit of energymoving faster axially. Similar reasoning applies to the subsequent lowfrequency curve LF#1, the final curve or coil in a 3-coil setup.

Considering a unit volume of water exiting from HF#1 at velocity “a+1,”it is then exposed to additional rotating coil faces that must be lessangled to accommodate the increased velocity imparted by HF#1. Theresult is that energy is increasingly imparted to an initial volume offluid as it moves rearward in the ribbon drive pumping tube at an everincreasing axial velocity.

Since water is contained within the cylinder of a ribbon drive pumpingsystem, its velocity through the cylinder (rotating at a constantR.P.M.) should progressively increase, with the volume exiting the rearbeing limited by the net water intake in the forward half, and thediameter of the exit outlet. Negative internal pressures found to bepresent (experimentally) in the forward half tend to support the theoryof increasing velocity along the ribbon drive unit interior.

Coil frequencies and axial lengths can be optimized. Coils, divided intoseparate sections and arranged in series, can also be rotated atdifferent RPM's (by separate drive means) to achieve optimal output.

The drive shaft can be spun or rotated by any of a number of means ofpower. Power could be transmitted to the containment tube of the pumpingapparatus from the means of power by the use of gears, pulleys, or anyof a variety of combinations of techniques including magneticattraction/repulsion methods. When pumping cryogens, a drive and bearingsystem with superconducting magnets could be used which takes advantageof the cryogen temperatures.

The pumping apparatus could be employed in a variety of sizes based onthe particular space or configuration restrictions of the area(s) inwhich it would be employed. The pumping apparatus could also be employedin a number of teaming arrangements in pairs, threes, fours, and soforth as well as in parallel or series based on the specificrequirements of the hydropower generation installation or otherinstallation requiring movement of large volumes of fluid. The inventionis both scalable and modular in its variety of possible configurations.

The employment of such an effective and energy-efficient means ofpumping would allow hydropower generation facilities to pump water froma variety of sources to reservoirs located at higher elevations therebyimparting energy by virtue of creating a waterfall situation andproviding a steady and reliable source of energy in areas previouslydeemed unsuitable for hydropower generation efforts because ofinsufficient water depth, insufficient water volume, and/or insufficientspeed of water flow. The use of such a reservoir(s) reduces and, in somecases eliminates, the requirement for the large and costly dam and largeflooded areas which plague, but are a requirement for operation of,current hydropower generation facilities. This flexibility would allowenergy efficient pumping of water in support of hydropower generationefforts thereby allowing such hydropower generation efforts to beemployed in areas previously deemed unsuitable for such activities.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein thecoils of the ribbon vane 12 are attached to a central shaft 16 and thecontainment tube 14 remains stationary. Rotation of ribbon vane 12produces the pumping effect. The containment tube may utilize inlets 15that take advantage of the low pressure regions of the pump to drawfluid into the interior of the containment tube or pressurized inlets,to supply additional fluid to internal areas, preferably those havingsignificant negative pressure. The fluid can be the same as the pumpedfluid or can be different, in which case the pump also provides mixing.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the central shaft may utilize a passage formedby a hollow central axle core 10 that is perforated to form additionalfluid passages 11, preferably to supply additional fluid to internalareas having significant negative pressure. Although this embodiment ismost easily used to provide additional fluid that is the same as thatbeing pumped by using a hollow shaft with an open end at the pump inlet,it could also be utilized for the delivery of a different fluid formixing purposes.

As with the other ribbon drive pumps developed by the present inventor,the curved ribbon-like vane may be made of metal, plastic, composite orother sturdy material. The frequency of the ribbon-like vane may befixed (static) or variable (dynamic or adjustable). It can be madevariable by segmenting the ribbon into a contiguous length of hinged,interlocking, or overlapping blades, which are movable by reason oflinkages or sliding splines (or other means to those skilled in the art)along the length of the ribbon band, or by linear elongation orcontraction. The latter can be achieved by centrifugal effect, magneticor hydraulic means, or other variable steppage. This can be designedwhere the innermost central edge of the ribbon-like vane is attached tothe central axle, which can include tubular sections that slidelongitudinally or include slots within which the innermost edgeattachment of the ribbon-like vane can be adjusted to slide, or by othermethods. The material of the ribbon-like vane can have limited butfinite flexibility/extensibility, to permit adjustment as the pumpingflow through the ribbon drive comes up to speed.

In the circumstance of utilizing the centrifugal effect generated by thespinning ribbon drive, the centrifugal force upon the ribbon-like banditself while rotating will impart energy to the band, which would tendto uncoil. This tendency could be utilized if there were some limitedflexibility and adjustability designed herein by virtue of choice ofmaterials and method of attachment, as indicated in the precedingparagraph. An increasing centrifugal force from increased rate ofrotation of the ribbon drive upon the ribbon-like band would tend tocause the curve of the band to uncoil. That is, the curve frequencywould become less acute and more gradual with fewer coils per unitlength; the helix angle of the curve would change from close to verticalto more close to the horizontal as defined by the central axis, therebyallowing water to flow through even more rapidly while the centrifugallyreconfigured ribbon drive turns at a constant speed.

Analogously, for the effect of centrifugal force upon a coil, imaginetwo persons spinning one rope between them with each holding one end,versus one person alone holding one end of a rope and spinning it. Theunattached, far-end of the rope will spin outwardly into a more gradualarc as it unwinds.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates possible variablediameter sections 18 and 19 at the unobstructed outlet of tube 14 andhow the ribbon 12 can be cupped 17 to have a concave curvature in adirection facing the outlet. As with the present inventor's prior ribbondrive pumps, the ribbon drive pump of the present invention can bemodified with plural sections for axially and serially aligning pluralvanes, can be arranged in parallel, can employ plural vanes equallyspaced about a shaft, can be used for peak shaving for existing powersystems by pumping water to reservoirs during low demand periods to beused for hydropower generation during peak demand periods, etc.

The aspect of increasing the velocity of the water as well as thescalability and modular nature of the present invention allow it to meetthe objective of creating a pumping apparatus for a hydropowergeneration system which involves significantly decreased outlays ofcapital for facilities construction required for current technologies tooperate.

The aspect of increasing the velocity of the water as well as thescalability and modular nature of the present invention allow it to meetthe objective of creating a pumping apparatus for a hydropowergeneration that requires a significantly less volume of water therebyresulting in decreased flooding and rendering unusable the large areasof land needed to contain the vast amounts of water required for currenttechnologies to operate.

The aspect of increasing the velocity of the water as well as thescalability and modular nature of the present invention allow it to meetthe objective of creating a pumping apparatus that will allow ahydropower generation system to function in areas where water depth,water volume, and/or speed of water flow are insufficient to supportcurrent technology hydropower generation.

Although the present pumping apparatus and method has been disclosedwith respect to specific embodiments, these are not meant aslimitations. Although certain numbers and locations of means for addingfluid are illustrated, the present invention can include one or more inany location along the length of the pump. Further, the disclosedribbon-driven pump has utility for transferring any liquid orsubstantially incompressible fluid. The fluid inlets of the presentinvention allow for a certain amount of pressure equalization that helpsto suppress cavitation. Therefore it is contemplated that the presentribbon drive pumping system is also suited for applications wherecavitation and the noise associated with cavitation would beundesirable, such as in military submarines (e.g., for reactor coolant,etc.), artificial hearts, and the pumping of low vapor pressure liquidslike refrigerants and cryogens.

It is also contemplated that fluid inlets of the present invention issuitable for mixing fluid streams into the pumped fluid/liquid.

1. A pumping apparatus for substantially incompressible fluidscomprising: a tube having an intake at a first end and an unobstructedoutlet at a second end; an axial shaft inside said tube; at least oneribbon having an inner edge mounted to said shaft, said ribbon beingformed of coils extending in a helical manner from the first end to thesecond end of the tube, wherein a frequency of coils per unit length oftube decreases from the first end to the second end of the tube; drivemeans for rotating said shaft and ribbon so as to pump saidsubstantially incompressible fluid from said first end to said secondend; and means for adding fluid to an interior portion of the pumpingapparatus.
 2. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means foradding fluid comprises means for adding liquid.
 3. The pumping apparatusof claim 1, wherein the means for adding fluid comprises one or moreinlets traversing said tube.
 4. The pumping apparatus of claim 3,further comprising locating an outlet of said one or more inlets in alow pressure region of the pump.
 5. The pumping apparatus of claim 1,wherein the means for adding fluid comprises a passage within said axialshaft to form a hollow shaft and one or more perforations in the hollowshaft allowing passage of fluid to an interior portion of the pumpingapparatus.
 6. The pumping apparatus of claim 5, further comprisinglocating said one or more perforations in a low pressure region of thepump.
 7. The pumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ribbon is cuppedto have a concave curvature in a direction facing the outlet.
 8. Thepumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for adding fluidcomprises one or more pressurized inlets traversing said tube.
 9. Thepumping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for adding fluidprovides one or more fluids that are diverse from said substantiallyincompressible fluid being pumped.
 10. A pumping method forsubstantially incompressible fluids comprising: providing a tube havinga substantially constant diameter intake at a first end, and an outletat a second end; rotating an axial shaft within said tube and at leastone ribbon having an inner edge mounted to said shaft so as to: collectsubstantially incompressible fluid at the first end; increase an axialcomponent of velocity of the substantially incompressible fluid with therotating ribbon; and eject substantially incompressible fluid from thesecond end to pump said liquid, wherein said ribbon is formed of coilsextending in a helical manner from the first end to the second end ofthe tube, wherein a frequency of coils per unit length of tube decreasesfrom the first end to the second end of the tube, and wherein fluid isadded to an interior portion of the pumping apparatus.
 11. The pumpingmethod of claim 10, wherein the fluid added is liquid.
 12. The pumpingmethod of claim 10, wherein the fluid is added under pressure.
 13. Thepumping method of claim 10, wherein the fluid is added by being drawninto a low pressure region by a pressure differential.
 14. The pumpingmethod of claim 13, wherein the fluid is added using one or more inletstraversing the tube.
 15. The pumping method of claim 13, furthercomprising providing a hollow axial shaft having one or moreperforations, wherein the fluid is added using one or more passagesformed by the hollow axial shaft and the one or more perforations. 16.The pumping method of claim 10, further comprising adding one or morefluids that are diverse from the substantially incompressible fluidbeing pumped to an interior portion of the pumping apparatus.